Utah Senate advances behavioral-health pilot, election changes and bereavement leave; sends multiple bills to the House

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate on day 15 of the legislative session on Wednesday advanced a package of bills that included a $200,000 pilot to integrate behavioral and physical health services, new rules allowing municipalities to cancel uncontested local races, and an expansion of bereavement leave to cover miscarriage and stillbirth.

Senator Kennedy presented Senate Bill 41 as a response to gaps in care for people experiencing homelessness and behavioral-health conditions: “What this bill does is create a pilot program. It would be a 200,000 initial outlay from the general fund,” he said, adding the bill would seek a Medicaid waiver to support continuation if the pilot proves effective. The measure passed on third reading, with the Senate recording 28 yea votes, 0 nay, and 1 absence.

Senator Iwamoto described Senate Bill 11 as clarifying when a municipal legislative body may cancel a local election or race — and as an effort to limit unnecessary ballot mailings in uncontested races. “This bill describes circumstances under which, and by method by which a municipal legislative body, may cancel a local election or race,” he said, noting the change is intended to save taxpayer money and reduce confusion. SB11 passed and will be transmitted to the House.

Senator Harper spoke in favor of first substitute Senate Bill 63, which adds miscarriage and stillbirth to the list of events that can trigger bereavement leave from cities, counties and the state. “This bill goes through and recognizes the the physical, emotional, and mental, and familial challenges of that and puts, a requires bereavement leave to be given,” Harper said. The first substitute passed on third reading.

Other measures taken up included vehicle and licensing changes, administrative cleanups and program extensions. Among the bills the Senate passed and sent to the House were:

- Senate Bill 72 (ATV weight limit amendments) — raises ATV weight limits to account for added safety equipment and electric-vehicle batteries; passed and will be sent to the House.
- Senate Bill 77 (military vehicle license plate amendments) — allows display when plate is kept in the glove compartment or cabin; passed 27–0 with 2 absent.
- Senate Bill 88 (digital driver license amendments) — authorizes carrying a driver’s license on a phone; passed 25–0 with 4 absent.
- Senate Bill 60 (agreements to provide state services) — extends by three years (through July 1, 2028) the deadline for agencies to enter agreements with the U.S. Postal Service for state services; passed 26–0 with 3 absent.
- Senate Bill 58 (day of remembrance for incarceration of Japanese Americans) — designates an annual day of remembrance; sponsors cited Executive Order 9066 and the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 in remarks; passed 27–0 with 2 absent.
- Senate Bill 82 (state facilities management amendments) — a second substitute that removes obsolete references and adjusts thresholds for state property transactions; passed 26–0 with 3 absent.
- Senate Bill 84 (chiropractic practice amendments) — clarifies chiropractors’ authority to order MRI/CT within their practice area; passed 27–0 with 2 absent.
- Senate Bill 101 (nurse apprentice licensing) — codifies a pandemic-era nurse-apprentice license to allow final-semester nursing students to work under supervision and earn wages; passed 28–0 with 1 absent.

The Senate also heard brief committee reports, welcomed guests including a representative from the National Conference of State Legislatures, and noted a National Guard helicopter tour of the Great Salt Lake available to legislators by RSVP. President Adams announced that bills read for the first time would be referred to the Rules Committee and recessed the chamber until 2 p.m.

Votes at a glance — key tallies recorded on the floor:
SB72 — passed (vote recorded; one absence noted)
SB77 — 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
SB88 — 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent
SB60 — 26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent
SB11 — 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent
SB58 — 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
SB63 (1st sub) — 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent
SB82 (2nd sub) — 26 yea, 0 nay, 3 absent
SB41 — 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent
SB84 — 27 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent
SB101 — 28 yea, 0 nay, 1 absent

What’s next: Most measures will be transmitted to the Utah House for consideration. The Senate recessed for caucus lunch and planned to return at 2 p.m.